Familiar Position for Two Old Foes

A look at today’s Wimbledon women’s semifinals:

No. 2 Venus Williams vs. No. 3 Lindsay Davenport

Head-to-head: Davenport leads, 10-6.

This is a match between the last two Wimbledon champions and last year’s finalists. Davenport has the advantage lifetime, but Williams has won five of the last seven matches between them. That includes victories in 2000 finals at Wimbledon--6-3, 7-6 (3)--and the U.S. Open--6-4, 7-5. They’ve met only once since, Davenport winning, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Neither has lost a set at Wimbledon this year.

Davenport, 25, was sidelined for three months this year because of a bruised right knee but warmed up for this tournament with the championship two weeks ago on grass at Eastbourne, England. Only occasionally does she appear to be favoring the knee. The only player who has challenged her was Jelena Dokic in the fourth round, but Davenport won, 7-5, 6-4.

Williams, 21, hadn’t lost more than five games in a match until the quarterfinals, when she went to sleep at 5-1 and allowed Natalie Tauziat back into the match. Sort of. Williams won, 7-5, 6-1.

“I’ll be ready,” she said of her match against Davenport. “I think maybe she hasn’t been playing her best game. She’s been playing a few tough players like Dokic. It was good to come through this match. But, at this point, I’m just focusing on myself, really just playing out there, showing no fear.”

Of Williams, Davenport said: “It’s tough to play her on this surface. She hits the ball extremely hard and serves well. I’m going to have to play well.”

No. 4 Jennifer Capriati vs. No. 8 Justine Henin

Head-to-head: Capriati leads, 1-0.

They have much less history. They played in this year’s German Open, Capriati winning, 6-2, 4-6, 2-1, after Henin retired because of an injury. But that was on clay and gives little indication how today’s match will be played.

Henin, 19, is the surprise semifinalist, her quarter of the draw opening when top-seeded Martina Hingis lost in the first round. But Henin isn’t new to this level, having advanced to the semifinals of this year’s French Open.

The only non-American in the semifinals, the Belgian has twice been extended to three sets--against Kristie Boogert in the second round and Anke Huber in the fourth.

Capriati, attempting to win her third Grand Slam tournament of the year at 25, was two points from elimination in the quarterfinals against Serena Williams but fought back for a 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-3 victory.

“This will be a different match,” Capriati said. “There will be more rallies, for sure. I think clay is her best surface, but we’ll see. Just hopefully I’ll be serving well. I’ll really just try to attack her game.”